30 MAY 2025 FACT RECORDER
On September 18, 2022, receptionist Ankita Bhandari was m*urdered at Vantra Resort, and her body was dumped in the Cheela Shakti Canal. The body was recovered from the canal a week after the incident.
Ankita M*urder Case: After a hearing lasting two years and eight months, the verdict will be delivered today in the ADJ court with tight security arrangements.
Details:The much-talked-about Ankita Bhandari murder case verdict will be announced on Friday at the Additional District and Sessions Court (ADJ) in Kotdwar. The entire state of Uttarakhand and the nation are closely watching the court’s decision. Extensive security arrangements have been made by the police administration in Kotdwar, with police forces summoned from various districts of the Garhwal division. Barricades have been set up on roads outside the court premises.
The hearing concluded on May 19, when the prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor Avneesh Negi, submitted their final arguments in response to the defense. After hearing the arguments from both sides, the court scheduled the verdict for May 30. The first hearing began on January 30, 2023. Following an SIT investigation, the prosecution filed a 500-page charge sheet in court.
The charges were framed against the three accused — Vantra Resort owner Pulkit Arya, and his employees Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta. The prosecution’s witness testimony began on March 28, 2023. Over the two years and eight months of hearings, 47 key witnesses, including investigators, were examined in court. The SIT had prepared a list of 97 witnesses, of which 47 were presented.
There have been public protests demanding punishment for the accused in Kotdwar, Pauri, Rishikesh, Dehradun, and other places. Given this, it is expected that people from across the state and other cities may gather in Kotdwar to hear the verdict. Senior officials are making security arrangements based on intelligence inputs.
Kotwal Ramesh Tanwar stated that to ensure strict security at the court premises, a large police force including officers and one and a half companies of PAC personnel have been deployed from Pauri district as well as Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, and Uttarkashi districts.
No outsiders will be allowed inside the court premises. Police and administration have held multiple rounds of meetings and mock drills to prepare for security. According to sources, the court area will be converted into a heavily fortified zone starting Friday morning. Senior police and administrative officers will personally oversee the security arrangements.
